Someone to Watch Over Me by Jerrie Alexander

leaned back in the cruiser, making Cash shift positions to keep her in his line of sight. He couldn’t hear her words, but her hands moved rapidly while she talked. The longer she stayed with Kelly, the tighter the nerves between his shoulder blades knotted. After what felt like hours, Stacey emerged and dragged her hand through her hair. Kelly followed her back to where Cash and Bubba stood talking.
    “It’s a good idea to have her stay at your place.” Kelly handed his card to Cash. “I’d like your phone number. Just in case I can’t reach Ms. McKinney.”
    Cash jotted down his home and cell information then passed the card back. “When can we get inside her apartment?”
    “I’ll walk you up.” Kelly glanced at Stacey. “I’d like another look around. Be good for you to do the same, see if something else is missing.”
    “Lead the way,” she said.
    She grasped Cash’s hand and tugged as if to say, come with us. He squeezed back. No way was she getting out of his sight.
    Kelly tried the door and found it locked. Stepping back, he waved Stacey forward. “Appears to be secure. Go ahead and unlock it.”
    Words weren’t necessary. Cash caught the look she shot his direction. Stacey was frightened out of her wits. Cash took her keys, unlocked the door and entered first.
    “Sonofabitch. Kelly, take a look at this.” Cash stood between her and the doorway. Damn it. Now she’d really be freaked.
    “What’d you see?” She pushed past far enough to get an eyeful. “My God.”
    “Stay here.” Kelly drew his pistol and stepped into the destruction.
    Cash bit back the urge to follow. Protecting Stacy was more important. A few minutes later, Kelly waved them inside.
    Unsure how she’d react, Cash hung on to Stacey. He didn’t figure her for the fainting kind, but he’d stay on the safe side. Her living room looked like a hand grenade had exploded. Her couch was in shreds and her one easy chair lay on its side a long slash ran across the headrest. Magazines and broken glass was scattered across the floor.
    She broke away and ran into her bedroom. “My clothes.”
    Stacey dropped to the floor. She gathered the tossed about and torn pieces of clothing tightly against her chest. Tears trickled down her cheeks. His heart crunched. She’d always carried her head high, but everyone had their breaking point. He feared she’d reached hers.
    Cash squatted next to her. “You probably shouldn’t pick things up. Kelly will need everything left as is.”
    “He’s right,” Kelly said. “Maybe your guy did locate you. This place was intact when I did my walk through.” He stuck his head in the bathroom, stepped right back out, and then motioned for her to join him.
    If for no other reason than to give himself something to do, Cash kept his arm around her waist. He’d felt this kind of anger before, wanted to kill somebody with his bare hands, but that was war. Well, the sonofabitch who’d done this damage had declared his own personal brand of warfare. Cash would answer that call too.
    Scrawled across the mirror with lipstick were the words, “Now you’re dead.”
    “It’s Ray. He’s crazier than I thought.” Stacey paled, and Cash pulled her closer.
    “I need you two to wait outside,” Kelly announced. “If you want to hang around until we sort this out, fine. Or I can call you when you can come back.”
    “I need clothes.” Stacey balked.
    “We’ll get you some new things tomorrow.” Cash steered her toward the hall. “For now, let’s go to the ranch. You’re dead on your feet.”
    “Last chance to withdraw your offer.” Her gaze locked on his. The fear in her eyes cut a hole in his chest. “Be sure.”
    “I am.” His heart double clutched at the frustration and underlying terror in her voice. “For what it’s worth, I intend to keep you safe.”
    She glanced over her shoulder at the carnage. “That means more to me than you can imagine.” She lowered her gaze to her feet. “If Ms.